Doxycycline Hyclate and stomach problems

I started taking Doxy 100 mg July 2007 for the first time. At first I didn't link my side effects to the pills but after a break from taking it and started up again I finally out two and two together. First, it upset my stomach BIG time immediately after starting on it. I felt bloated and everything I ate upset my stomach--as the result of this I lost about eight pounds from just not eating anymore. I even went to see a GI doctor about my stomach problems! Who recommended I eat more fiber and get more exercise (I told her about all the meds I was on)! I also got sudden and very severe headaches, but the worst side effect of all is the extreme mood swings I had. I think I was going crazy and this almost ended my marriage...all of a sudden I developed low self esteem, constantly thinking I was worthless, fighting with my husband over the stupidest things and even contemplating suicide during the worst spells. I couldn't figure out why the sudden change- at first I thought it was the tough Chicago winter, since I am originally from a much warmer climate, because by this time I had been on doxy for about five months.
I was prescribed the medication to help clear up moderate acne on my back and my dermatologist gave me the prescription for a year, but never said come see me in a month, two months, etc to see how you;re doing. I am so glad that I stopped taking it in February 2008 --- my moods suddenly got better, I was myself again, I started eating again, my GI problems disappeared...and then...in April I started taking it again because with summer coming up again I wanted my acne to clear up- BIG MISTAKE! Within days of starting again my stomach started being upset all the time regardless of what I ate. After the first month I was feeling depressed again, hating myself and not knowing why--this is when i finally figured it out...and decided to stop...I'd rather have pimples on my back than feel the way this medication make me feel, which is pretty much miserable!

I was prescribed Doxycycline 100mg tablets twice a day, for 3 to 4 months, for a skin condition (perioral dermatitis) which causes small sores to form around my mouth. After my experience with this antibiotic, I'd rather have the sores!

I took the Doxycycline twice a day for the first week with no side effects. Antibiotics always cause yeast infection, so I took Diflucan before I started treatment and didn't have that problem. On the tenth day of the Doxycycline, (two days ago) I took a tablet with a little water and went right to bed. As I have read in previous posts on here, BIG MISTAKE! It felt like a giant gas bubble just below my breastbone, in my stomach area. Not too painful, but annoying. Every time I woke up during the night, that feeling was still there. The next day, the pressure was still in that area of my stomach, and it began to feel like heartburn. This feeling persisted all day, no matter what I ate or drank, which is very unusual for me as I don't usually have stomach problems. That's when I searched the web for side effects of Doxycycline, and found this website.

After reading many posts on this site, I decided it was indeed the Doxycycline, so didn't take them yesterday. However, the bloated, burning feeling was still present last night, a full 24 hours after the last capsule had been taken.

I had read someone's post about drinking apple juice, and thought it couldn't hurt...and I'll be darned if within 15 minutes that bloated, burning feeling went away, and hasn't returned. I don't understand WHY that works - unless maybe there is residual medicine sitting in the stomach which can't be digested, and the acid in the apple juice neutralizes it, but it WORKS!

I will NOT take any more Doxycycline, and will just keep the perioral dermatitis! I didn't have the depression or fatigue I see others have had, but since I was only on the meds 10 days, maybe those symptoms didn't have time to develop.

For people having stomach problems: There is a brand name of doxycycline called "Doryx" that is enteric coated so that it goes through the stomach and dissolves in the intestine instead, so that it doesn't cause stomach symptoms. Ask your doctor to switch to "Doryx".

With regard to diarrhea, I would recommend going to your local health food/supplement shop and picking up a probiotic like acidophilus in the refrigerated section (or perhaps a combination product with different probiotics). This will help to replenish "friendly" bacteria in the intestinal tract and prevent diarrhea if you take it at least twice daily. Just be sure to take it far away from your doxy dose.

With regard to thrush and yeast overgrowth, ask your doctor for some Nystatin. Nystatin is a very, very non-toxic anti-fungal with virtually no side effects most of the time. It is not absorbed from the intestinal tract. It is used to clear yeasts like candida from the mouth and digestive tract. It comes in both tablets and powder. If purchased in tabs, be sure to chew the tablets and swish the contents around in the mouth before swallowing.

i was put on it for 3rd stage lymes's disease. The doctors dont even know if I have 3rd stage lyme's disease but they're "assuming" because of all of my symptoms. I have never done well with medications and yet again this one didnt work well. Ive been on it for 2 weeks now out of 4 and I have been very sick to my stomach, headaches, my vision has changed, i bruise easier. I also have had horrible stomach problems, cramping and I have not been able to have a bowl movement for 2 weeks. I also have been sleeping up to 17-20 hours a day missing classes and work. I can barely function I'm more like a zombie. And all my doctor back home said (i'm in college) was that "these are side effects it will happen." However the doctor up here took me off it immediately. I need this med to take my pain away w/the "lymes disease" however these side effects are incredibly painful and causing a problem in my daily life. Not a good medication i feel

I have been taking this for about 2-3 and ever since I've been on this pill I have been experiencing stomach discomfort. I have never had stomach problems in my entire life so this is unusual. I am taking this pill as a malaria medicine because I will be traveling out of country, and also as an acne medicine. I have never had a side effect to any pill before, but last night I was throwing up like crazy and had to go to the emergency room at the hospital. They did not find anything wrong but I am sure it is this medicine and will stop taking because I do not want liver damage.